Calm Seas and Sydney’s Cliffs

All the weather and marine forecasts said the same thing – small waves and an even smaller ocean swell. Despite weeks of big seas and high winds, here was a one-day window of opportunity that was too good to ignore. It was time to head to sea.

Leaving home around 5am, the temperature gauge read 2 degrees C, a very chilly start to the day. With all my winter paddling layers on, I finally pushed off from The Spit and paddled past Balmoral Beach, then Middle Head, across the shipping lane and finally to Sydney Harbour’s South Head. With a final look back, I paddled past the rocky headland and out to sea.

Breaking light over the Tasman Sea. Beautiful.

With half an hour to go before sunrise, I turned south and paddled along Sydney’s cliffs for a kilometre or so, admiring their ruggedness in the early light. Motor boats were steadily leaving the Harbour and heading to sea, with fishing, diving and whale-watching boats taking advantage of the calm conditions. I was sitting a little under half a kilometre out to sea waiting for the sunrise, and quietly hoping to see migrating whales. And then I get to enjoy the sunrise, with the cliffs of Sydney bathed in the mornings first orange glow.

Sunrise over calm seas.

Early morning cliffs

With the sun now up, I turned and paddled back in towards the cliffs before slowly paddling back towards South Head, and its candy-striped Lighthouse. As I got closer, I could just make out a lone paddler rounding the head, with the unmistakable blue Atlantic signaling that it was the The Famous Tim Kennings.

The South Head lighthouse

After a quick hello, we paddled up to North Head’s impressive southern cliff where we watched divers, fishermen and ski paddlers frolicking close to the cliff-line. Then with a wave, Timbo headed south for a burn along the cliffs whilst I paddled back into the Harbour to finish off the morning’s paddle and get a hot coffee into me. Cheers – FP

I’m from South Africa and paddled at a few places alongside our coastline.

I think a kayaker, like us, are one of the few fortunate people around as we can enjoy the sea and not to mention sea life. I’ve paddled at Hermanus and had the opportunity to see the whales, coming through during September & October, close and personal. Then again I had the opportunity to yak with the dolphins at Jeffrey’s Bay (one of the BillaBong Pro Surfing Contest spots) at our south coast.

Anyone are always welcome to visit RSA for a great kayaking experience